Asian Science Citation Index is committed to provide an authoritative, trusted and significant information by the
coverage of the most important and influential journals
to meet the needs of the global scientific community.

Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis
(MAP) is the causative agent of chronic enteric granulomatous inflammation in
animals and is known as Johnes Disease (JD) or Paratuberculosis. JD, being
spectral in nature, presents variable bacteriological, immunological and pathological
spectra leading to variable efficacy of diagnostic methods at different points
of time during the course of infection. The present study aimed to estimate
the incidence of MAP in two important breeds of goats (Mehsani and Surti) from
South Gujarat region of India by applying conventional, molecular and serological
methods. A total 219 goats were screened and categorized into Group-I (123 Mehsani
goats), Group-II (76 Surti goats) and Group-III, (20 Non-descript goats). Percent
positivity by faecal smear examination, delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH),
agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID), IS900 polymerase chain reaction) (PCR) and
indigenous enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit was 9.2 (7/76), 21.9
(27/123), 10.9 (24/219), 12.5 (5/40) and 43.3% (95/219), respectively. Of the
123 goats of Group-I, 27 (21.9%) were positive in DTH test. Of the 5 faecal
positive goats which also showed clinical signs, 2 (3.5%) goats died during
study were negative by Johnin test. Similar to these findings, sensitivity of
Johnin test in goats ranged between 18-30% with least specificity in both preclinical
and advanced stage of disease. Of 34 cases of caprine paratuberculosis, 73.5%
goats were positive for Johnin test. In the present study, out of the 5 infected
goats, 3 (60%) were positive in Johnin test. Rectal pinch smear examination
was carried out in 27 DTH positive goats and all smears were negative for the
presence of acid fast bacilli. Screening tests (Indigenous ELISA and
DTH) showed very high incidence of MAP infection in the goat population. The
utility of multiple diagnostic tests is suggested for confirmatory detection
and epidemiological diseases investigations of MAP in animals.